According to updates on Apple's specifications page, iPhone 18 Pro is equipped with C2 modems in all markets. With iPhone 18 Pro Max, C2 is also used in most countries and territories, but the version sold in the US does not use this modem.
The information was discovered by journalist Nicolas Lellouche of French technology site Numerama when reviewing new technical specifications updated by Apple.
According to account @itspdfu - a user who regularly follows changes related to Apple software, the iOS 27 source code shows that the US version of iPhone 18 Pro Max uses a Qualcomm modem instead of C2.
Apple has not explained why the iPhone 18 Pro Max version in the US uses a different modem. One possibility is that Apple is still implementing an agreement with Qualcomm. In 2023, Qualcomm announced an agreement to supply modems to Apple until 2026.
The C2 modem is the third generation of mobile modems developed by Apple, after the C1 and C1X. Apple says the C2 delivers significantly faster upload speeds than the C1X, while consuming 15% less energy. The C2 also supports 5G mmWave in the US.
Previously, the C1 modem first appeared on the iPhone 16e in 2025, while the C1X was equipped on the iPhone Air launched in the same year. Bringing the C2 to most versions of iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max continues to show that Apple is gradually reducing dependence on Qualcomm modems.
Currently, Apple has not confirmed the specific Qualcomm modem used on the iPhone 18 Pro Max in the US. Some sources predict that it may be the Snapdragon X85 chip, but this information has not been confirmed by Apple.
The difference between the C2 modem and the Qualcomm modem on the US iPhone 18 Pro Max can only be assessed more clearly through actual tests of network speed, connection stability and power consumption.
Notably, iPhone Duo - Apple's first folding screen iPhone model, uses C2 modems worldwide, according to published information.
